Estelle

One of the most intelligent and likable UK urban artists, Estelle first burst into the charts in 2004 with the colourful 1980 and the largely autobiographical album The 18th Day. It found her being tagged as Britain's answer to the Fugees' Lauryn Hill but, after a lull following her initial breakthrough, Estelle showed her quality, versatility and strength of character in 2008 collaborating with rapper Kanye West on the international hit American Boy - which established her as a big star in the US. Released on John Legend's label Homeschool, the subsequent album Shine confirmed her star quality; being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. Drawing heavily on modern styles, the brutal honesty of her confessional style impressed audiences from all genres. "I just tell the truth," she says. "Every lyric is a conversation I've had." In 2010 she returned to the studio with French house producer and DJ David Guetta working on a brand new album.